Hunters Hill: woman found dead in park wearing collar

A woman found dead in a Sydney park had a dog collar around her neck, police treating the discovery as “definitely suspicious”.

A woman found dead near play equipment in the leafy Sydney northern suburb of Hunters Hill yesterday had what appeared to be a dog collar around her neck.

Her hands were bound, and there were 30m of drag marks nearby.

The woman, naked from the waist up, had severe head injuries, and packing tape had been used to bind her hands.

Emergency services were called to Buffalo Creek Reserve about 7.30am after a local council worker found the body in parkland ­adjacent to a playground.

It is understood the woman had a ­purple collar around her neck.

The homicide squad and Ryde police examined the area for ­evidence.

Police officers searching for evidence at the crime scene. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Very few details about the victim, who is yet to be identified, were confirmed at a press conference at Eastwood Police Station.

“A body was found in a park near a main road, and we don’t have a cause of death, so at this stage it’s definitely suspicious,” Detective Superintendent David Waddell said. “There’s been no identification at this stage. It’s very early stages.”

Investigators were “canvassing the area” for CCTV footage that may have captured someone moving the body to the park.

It is understood the council worker who made the discovery had been operating a lawnmower when he came across the scene.

Forensic officers collecting evidence at the scene at Buffalo Creek Reserve. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police used crime scene tape to cordon off the female section of a public toilet block just metres from where the body was found.

A worker from the ­Muni­cipality of Hunters Hill was seen entering the crime scene about 11:45am to retrieve some belongings that his colleague who had made the discovery had left at the site.

One man in the park on Wednesday, who was en route to visit relatives, said the secluded reserve had long needed better lighting and security cameras.

He said his parents had once encountered a “terrified” girl walking alone late at night and had given her a lift to nearby shops.

“It is dangerous,” he said.

A woman approached officers at the scene about midday and ­explained she had been walking her dogs in the park earlier in the morning.

She was ushered beyond the police tape where she spoke to ­detectives.

Another local said he often came to the park to enjoy his lunch in peace.

He said it was usually filled with mothers and children using the playground equipment.

­Yesterday, they were all turned away.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP